Respiratory Fluid Connector Venting With Elongated Gas Blades
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid connectors used in respiratory therapy devices for conditions like obstructive sleep apnea have limitations in manufacturing reliability and acoustic signature due to small holes for exhalation, which restrict their performance in delivering exhaled breathing gas efficiently and quietly.
Innovation Solution
An improved fluid connector apparatus with an exhalation insert featuring elongated flow channels that discharge exhaled breathing gas as elongated blades, facilitating diffusion and dissipation while reducing acoustic signature and increasing volume output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If small holes are used for exhalation in conventional fluid connectors, then acoustic signature is reduced, but manufacturing reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the exhalation feature from small circular holes to elongated slots with specific dimensions (e.g., 2mm x 10mm). This parameter change allows the exhalation openings to maintain low acoustic signature while being manufacturable with standard tolerances, thus resolving the contradiction between acoustic performance and manufacturing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the exhalation function into multiple elongated slots distributed around the connector perimeter. This segmentation provides redundancy - if one slot is slightly defective, others compensate - thereby improving manufacturing reliability while maintaining low acoustic signature through the elongated geometry
2Object-affected harmful factors
If small holes are used for exhalation, then acoustic signature is reduced, but exhaled gas discharge efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the exhalation opening parameters from small diameter holes (e.g., 0.5mm) to elongated slots (e.g., 2mm x 10mm = 20mm²). This increases the total exhalation area by a factor of 4-16 times, dramatically improving discharge efficiency while the elongated shape maintains low acoustic signature through distributed flow
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from zero-dimensional point holes to two-dimensional elongated slots, adding dimensional complexity to the exhalation openings. This dimensional change enables much larger effective exhalation area within the same connector volume, improving gas discharge efficiency without increasing acoustic signature
3Quantity of substance
If elongated flow channels are used to discharge gas as blades, then volume output and diffusion are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the exhalation insert with the connector body as a single integrated component manufactured in one molding process. This eliminates separate assembly steps and reduces device complexity while maintaining the elongated flow channel geometry that enables high volume output and diffusion of exhaled gas blades
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances the efficiency and quietness of exhaled gas discharge, providing improved respiratory therapy by enabling greater volume output at reduced velocities with reduced acoustic disturbance.
Implementation Method 1
The elongated blades of gas enable improved fluid flow when compared with conventional circular jets of gas and advantageously also entrain atmospheric gases adjacent the gas blades to facilitate diffusion and dissipation of the gas blades
Implementation Method 2
The flow channels cause the discharged gas to be output in the form of the elongated blades of gas
Data Source
AI summary
An fluid connector apparatus having an exhalation insert that provides an improved exhalation feature whereby exhaled breathing gas flows out of the fluid connector apparatus in the form of elongated blades of gas. The elongated blades of gas enable improved fluid flow when compared with conventional circular jets of gas and advantageously also entrain atmospheric gases adjacent the gas blades to facilitate diffusion and dissipation of the gas blades. The fluid connector apparatus includes one or more elongated flow channels formed between the exhalation insert and the fluid connector. The exhaust gas flows through the flow channels, and the flow channels cause the discharged gas to be output in the form of the elongated blades of gas. The exhalation feature enables the outputting of exhaled breathing gas in greater volumes, at reduced velocities, and with reduced acoustic signature.